![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
To help myself get and stay fit, I have the idea of setting physical challenges for myself. Ideally, a challenge will be something I secretly fear that I cannot do, but also something that with sufficient training I might at least attempt without seriously injuring my knee.
The first one was hiking to the top of Half Dome. That fit the bill, and I was immensely happy having done it. My knees weren't comfortable at all, but as far as I could tell neither one was damaged any further, so that was a success.
My most recent idea was to run a 5K. I wanted to find a road race and give myself enough training time for it. I never did find a race. I ran more than 5K on one of my training days, and for this goal I will content myself with that.
So here's my latest idea: Bay to Breakers.
Pro: I am secretly worried that I can never do it, because of my knee.
Con: It's 12K, longer than I've ever run even before my knee injury, and there's one killer hill.
Pro: It isn't until next May, so I have lots of time to work up to it.
Con: I have a friend who runs it every year with no training whatsoever, and this is the same friend with whom I injured my knee, so there's a lot of resentment I'll have to fight through. This race is symbolic not only of his good luck and my bad luck, but of the punishment I get for hanging out with a good-luck person. Every day I train I will be angry.
Pro: If I finish, that would be really cathartic. It would show that I can do difficult things without perfect luck. I would be immensely proud and happy. Maybe even better than the Half Dome hike.
Con: It will be really crowded. I don't do well with crowds.
I'll keep thinking about it.
The first one was hiking to the top of Half Dome. That fit the bill, and I was immensely happy having done it. My knees weren't comfortable at all, but as far as I could tell neither one was damaged any further, so that was a success.
My most recent idea was to run a 5K. I wanted to find a road race and give myself enough training time for it. I never did find a race. I ran more than 5K on one of my training days, and for this goal I will content myself with that.
So here's my latest idea: Bay to Breakers.
Pro: I am secretly worried that I can never do it, because of my knee.
Con: It's 12K, longer than I've ever run even before my knee injury, and there's one killer hill.
Pro: It isn't until next May, so I have lots of time to work up to it.
Con: I have a friend who runs it every year with no training whatsoever, and this is the same friend with whom I injured my knee, so there's a lot of resentment I'll have to fight through. This race is symbolic not only of his good luck and my bad luck, but of the punishment I get for hanging out with a good-luck person. Every day I train I will be angry.
Pro: If I finish, that would be really cathartic. It would show that I can do difficult things without perfect luck. I would be immensely proud and happy. Maybe even better than the Half Dome hike.
Con: It will be really crowded. I don't do well with crowds.
I'll keep thinking about it.
